Protest interrupts U.S. Civil Rights Commission in Birmingham A protest erupted at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights hearing on Friday, Aug. 17, 2012, on the impact of state immigration laws like Arizona's and Alabama's. The group of protestors stood, shouted in English and Spanish and held banners saying "undocumented" to interrupt the remarks by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who helped write Alabama's and Arizona's immigration laws.

The group of protestors stood, shouted in English and Spanish and held banners saying "undocumented" to interrupt the remarks by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who helped write Alabama's and Arizona's immigration laws.

The protest began with five women standing with their backs to the panel as Kobach addressed them. The protestors had "STOP" written on their T-shirts

"These laws are made from hate" one protestor shouted.

As Kobach tried to continue, four other protestors stood one by one and shouted in English and Spanish.

"I'm undocumented and I'm unafraid," shouted one man.

The protestors were escorted out of the hearing by security at the Birmingham Sheraton. A rally by law opponents is expected outside the event at noon.

The protests were similar to ones at the Alabama State House during debate on Alabama's law. The commission is gathering information about the impact of state immigration laws.

Kobach during his seven-minute testimony said that there had been many false statements by people about state immigration including by Attorney General Eric Holder such as claims the laws encouraged racial profiling.

Kobach said the laws specifically prohibit racial profiling and prohibit a police officer from using race or ethnic origin when detaining someone as a suspected illegal immigrant. "If the police officer treats the Hispanic family differently, he would be breaking the law," Kobach said.

Kobach detailed examples other than race he said might give a state police officers such as an overloaded vehicle driving through a known human trafficking route.

Alabama State Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, who followed Kobach told the panel that he believed such laws were focused on Hispanics.

"I guarantee people of Hispanic origin will see the length of their traffic stop increase beyond the reason for the traffic stop," England, a former prosecutor, said.

State Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, who sponsored Alabama's law, said the media and other had a misplaced focus on the plight of illegal immigrants instead of Alabama citizens looking for jobs.